Subscribe to YourTango newsletter

Flirting 101: 9 Guidelines to Avoid Disaster

Many of my dating coaching clients complain about men who flirt with them but don't ask them out. This goes back to my point that flirting is often fun, but meaningless. When a man does this, he enjoys flirting with you, but doesn't intend to take things further. If this happens to you, stop expecting his flirtations to become more serious and move on to meet new men who will ask you out.

While the WSJ article looked at many aspects of flirting, it failed to point out how to avoid getting into hot water. You need to be smart about your flirting regarding where you are, with whom you flirt and the choice of words. This is common sense isn't it?

Several examples were cited of women who got chastised and lost business clients due to their flirting exploits. Reading about what they did, honestly you wouldn't be surprised they got into trouble.

One woman found herself out of a standing invitation to an annual holiday party for lewd remarks exchanged with a married man. She also lost clients because of her inappropriate comments. She crossed a social mores line in these situations and felt the backlash.

4. Don't flirt with men using sexual innuendos. You don't want to give them the wrong impression.5. Don't use bawdy language at professional events. This is just bad taste.5. Don't boldly flirt with married men at work functions ... especially when wives are in attendance.6. Don't dog a man with your flirtatious advances. Let him show interest before you push on.7. Don't touch a man repeatedly while flirting ... unless you want to be considered a tease.8. Don't let flirting get too intense or sexual. Keep it light-hearted and fun.9. Don't say or do anything you'll regret. Or anything you'd feel embarrassed about later or wish no one knew about.

If you follow these nine, simple guidelines and use your common sense, flirting is a totally appropriate and safe way for single women to engage men and create playful interactions making any event more fun. And flirting is a great way to get more dates and potentially find love.

To get more of Dating Coach Ronnie's proven dating tips, click the link to get her Free ebook 5 Big Turnoffs That Drive Men Away.

Everyone knows that older men love dating younger women (and many of my female coaching clients complain about this).
But in recent years, the tables turned and now many women are dating younger men.
Naturally there are wonderful things about being romanced by someone younger, as well as a number of challenges. A lot depends on the age ... Read more

Apparently, there is only a tiny window for a woman to marry that's considered the "right time."
This is because younger women in their 20s feel pressured by parents and friends to focus on education and career first. The idea is to establish yourself in the world BEFORE being "distracted" by love. Looking for a husband in ... Read more

Are you over 40 and still hoping to find your soulmate? Maybe you're divorced and want to find true love this time around, or you thought you found the love of your life and feel confused. Perhaps you haven't met the right man yet.
Whatever your romantic circumstance, finding love again is possible.
First, let's get on the same page about ... Read more

Elizabeth Hurley & Arun Nayar

Hurley and Nayar made it official in 2007 with a week-long wedding celebration that spanned two continents. The 41-year-old bride said "I do" to her 42-year-old beau in front of 300 guests at an Anglican ceremony at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, England. The pair then whisked off to Jodhpur, India, where they had a traditional Hindu ceremony.

Marcia Cross & Tom Mahoney

Cross, 44, married stockbroker Tom Mahoney, 48, in 2006 after meeting in a local Los Angeles flower shop. Cross has said of their random encounter, "If we had met in our 20s, we would have been ships in the night. He had his journey to go on, and I had mine. He possesses stability and I've got an impulsive side. It's a wonderful combination."

Julianna Margulies & Keith Lieberthal

A seven-months pregnant Margulies, 41, quietly tied the knot with lawyer Lieberthal in late 2007. The ER alum, whose father walked her down the aisle, now plays a scorned spouse on CBS's The Good Wife.

Salma Hayek & François-Henri Pinault

After their daughter was born and their engagement called off, Hayek, 42, switched gears again and wed her longtime boyfriend, French magnate Pinault, 46, in a civil ceremony at City Hall in Paris' chic 6th arrondissement. The couple followed up their weekend nuptials with a star-studded bash at Venice's Teatro La Fenice opera house.

Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi

Much to the surprise of girlfriend de Rossi, 35, DeGeneres, 50, announced her wedding plans live on her talk show. "This is very exciting," DeGeneres began, "California Supreme Court overturned a ban on gay marriage. I would like to say right now, for the first time, I am getting married." The funny woman added, "I'll tell you who the lucky guy is soon." She later lamented the passing of Proposition 8, which repealed the court's ruling, by saying, "One day, when everyone is treated with full equality, we'll look back and realize how wrong this was."

Mariska Hargitay & Peter Hermann

Hargitay, 40, donned fresh gardenias in her hair and a blush-colored Carolina Herrera gown for her summertime nuptials to actor Hermann, 37, whom she met on the set of Law & Order: SVU. "It's my first marriage," she has said. "I wanted to find out where I was going before I found out who was going with me."

Sandra Bullock & Jesse James

Low-key Bullock, 41, wed her tattooed beau at a ceremony in the hills of California. The actress, who wanted her celebration to have a "vintage western barbecue feel" rode in with James, 36, on a giant red monster truck. Guests sat on haystacks during the ceremony and danced to bluegrass music.

Susie Essman & Jimmy Harder

For a long time, Essman didn't think she was marriage material. Now the Curb Your Enthusiasm star, 53, is wife to real-estate broker Harder, 51, and stepmother to his four children. "I never had any interest in getting married or having kids. I was always having fun and enjoying my career, and now here I am, in the middle of this big, wonderful family, and my whole life has turned around."
Can't get enough Hollywood romance? Check out our Couples We Love slideshow here.

Hurley and Nayar made it official in 2007 with a week-long wedding celebration that spanned two continents. The 41-year-old bride said "I do" to her 42-year-old beau in front of 300 guests at an Anglican ceremony at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, England. The pair then whisked off to Jodhpur, India, where they had a traditional Hindu ceremony.